Garment



July 13, 1948. P. OLI WHISNANT GARMENT 2 shets-sheet 1 Filed March 20', 1948 l N V E N Tb R %(63 @Xm, (W213 mat ATTORNEY July 13, 1948. P, OL. WHISNIANT 2,445,096

GARMENT Filed March 20, 1 948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EY v Patented July 13, 1948 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE,

Phyllis OLeary Whisnant, New'Yoi-k, N. Y. Application March 20, 1948, Serial No. 16,112

.7 Claims.

This invention relates to garments and is herein illustrated in some detail as embodied in a one-piece garment well adapted to be made of a few pieces of cloth stitched together, and additionally provided with waist bands or straps which form the means for supporting, and, in

cooperation with the especially shaped patterns, for causing the garment to present a pleasing and effective outer covering. The garment is trouser-like such as those known as slacks and is open at the sides for a considerable distance.

In the form shown, its body is made of four flat pieces of cloth out along fairly simple lines, so that whengsewed together one end may be dropped at the back, gathered up by its end band and fastened in front around the waist, while the other end may be drawn forward by its end between its legs and lifted up and fastened to the first end band.

The pieces are so cut that the free edges overlap and fall into place around the legs, giving the appearance of slacks or chaps worn by rangers.

The flat pieces provide a substantially open lgarment easily washed and ironed and which is conveniently and quickly 'put on and off by a wrap-around action. The garment, when worn, provides elongated and attractive side openings or slits which further permit freedom of action, relief from binding, and avoid emphasis on anatomical bulges which are considered esthetically objectionable. Thus, the slits tend to open further in response to any stretching tendency when the garment is worn, so as not to cause the garment to cling so tightly at the back as to delineate the outline of the body.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the garment with one band hooked around the waist.

s Fig. 2 shows the second band also [hookedin place.

Fig. 3 is a similar view from the rear of the garment and on a smaller scale.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the earment about to be hooked around the waist."

, Fig. 5 shows the two sections making up the main section.

Fig. .6 shows the two minor sections making up the front or supplementary section.

In the form shown, the garment includes a band I0 adapted to be passed around the waist of the wearer and to be hooked together by hooks II and eyes l2, so that righthand panel l3 ,(as viewed by wearer) hangs down .over and outside 2- of the right leg, and lefthand panel l4 hangs down over the outside of the left leg. Together, such panels form a body encircling portion the vertical side'edges of which are brought adjacent the front center of the garment as worn and in close proximity to each other for a major portion of their length so that the front areas of the wearers legs are substantially covered while the normal spacing between the legs is left uncovered at the front.

The panels l3 and I4 are identical reflections of each other, and are shown as stitched by seams IE to lie between the thicknesses of the band ID. Each panel l3, [4 is shown with a wide hem l6 around its curved outer edge I1, and as having a pleat l8 at its top stitched under the seam i5 at the very edge of the hem l6, and'with a second slightly narrower pleat [9 near eyes-20, adapted to hold smaller panels 2I, described below.

Each panel as shown also includes a third pleat 22 about the same size as pleat l9-and further include a side edge 23, such side edges being brought around to the front center when the garment is worn. I

Each panel inturned edge of the hem I6 is straight along selvage for about three-fourths of the length the panel, and then the hem turns inward at 24 on a curve 25 becoming parallel to the band I3 at the very end 26 of the curve 25' so that when suspended by band ID at the waist, the end 26 is suitable for a slack leg end. The opposite sides 30 of the panels are cut on a concave curve 21 which commences at 28 and l3 and" may be so cut that the a Of then curves to a point 29.

The remaining lengths 3! of the panels l4 and I5 are cut on a slightly concave curve 32 from the ends 26 to the points 29 The panel 2 I, mentioned 33 as an identical reflection of it, and these are adapted to be hooked to the band ill by an end band 34, which runs along the cross-wire narrow ends of the panels 2 l' and 33, and carries end hooks 35 adapted to hook intothe eyes Men the band HI when the band I0 is closed across the front waist of the wearer.

The panels 2| and 33 are shown as formed with outer hems 36, running straight for nearly fourfifths of their'length along selvages and then curving inward at 31 on a slant to the inner edges 38, so that the body width of a panel 2| or 33 is about half the width of a panel l3 or M. The panels 2| and 33 when supported at the waist by above, matches panel band 34, end approximately level with the bottom of panels l3 and M.

The inner, slightly concave edges 33 of panels 2| and 33 are the same length as the curved edges 32 of the panels I3 and M.

In actually making the garment, the order of events is as follows: The curved edge 32 of panel I3 is stitched to the curved edge 38 of panel 33 as far as the'point 39, and the curvededge 32 of panel I4 is stitched to curved edge 38 of panel 2| as far as the same point 39.

I he slightly concave free edge 40 of panel 33 from the point 39 to the middle of the band 34 is stitched to the identical edge 40 of the panel 2!, and then the band 34, already described, is stitched across the ends of the panels 33. and 24, so as to just reach the ends and fit the two sets of eyes ZD'With its hooks 35. T

To obtain the proper fullness and width of panels 33 and 2 I, each panel is shown as stitched with. a pleat 4 I. r

The two edges 39 are stitched together, and then. the band I is sewn down on the'panels l3 and M to make the finished garment.

In the formshown the hooks I l are on an extension 43' of the band Ill beyond the hem l6 by an inch or'two, which, when on the wearer, overlaps a similar extension 44, and the eyes I 2 are shown as placed in line with the inner edge of the hem "ion the panel M.

In using the garment, the band it is so adjust'ed that the panels l4 and I3 lie on the back and down the backs of the legs of the wearer, so the panels 2| and 33 hang down with-the band 34- between the legs. The longitudinal or vertical side edges 23 of the panels t3 and I4 com prising the body encircling portion are thus brought around so as to substantially cover the front portion of the wearers legs as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2. The respective edges 23 are thus brought adjacenteach other in order to permit a substantial degree of separation with respect to the panels 2|, 33 without unduly exposing the wearers thighs.

The hooks H are caught on the eyes [2, thus leaving the wearers hands free to pick up the band (see Fig. 1) lift it up in front and catch its hooks 35 on the eyes 20 (Fig. 2). This brings the band 34' across the front of the waist concealing the hooks and eyes.

The resulting garment shows the panels I 3 and M covering the backs and sides andpart of the front of the legs of the wearer (see Fig. 1), and then the panels 2! and 33 drawn up by the band 34 fall outside the panels l3 and I covering the fronts of the legs, and shows them held by the hooks 35 to swing sideways to cover the sides of the legs while overlapping the front faces of panels l3 and M to a considerable degree as shown. in Fig. 2. Accordingly, a continuous side opening defined by the edge 23 and a front face of panels I3 or I4 is formed, the respective edges of the. overlapping panels being offset from one another. This offset relationship is a precaution against exposing the legs during normal wearing of the garment since the openings have no fasteners apart from the one clasp 45 as hereinafter described. Nevertheless, considerable movement is necessary before the overlapping panels can part so as to expose the legs. of a wearer.

To hold the panels 21 and 33 in place in Fig. 2, they are'shown as carrying concealed edge hooks or clasps 45 adapted to be caught in eyes 46 on the faces of the panels l3 and I4 near the; ends of the pleats I8 and I 9. Clasp 45 is thus disposed about midway between the half-way point along the length of the garment and the waistband.

Accordingly, such clasp 45 helps to maintain the for a waist line of about 28 inches and for short slacks,- but modified waist lines call for corresponding modifications in other dimensions, for

slack-type, and other modifications for other garments.

The wrap-around garment provided by the instant invention. affords an attractive appearance and a high degree of comfort when Worn. It is generally full cut so that the slits along the entire length of each leg have edges which, being loosely related to each other, may separate during periods of strain as when the wearer is sitting down. This avoids extreme tension on the fabric and is further useful in increasing the size range of individual garments of this type.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it'will be evident that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit. It is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which. fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention. v

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is: n

1. A garment comprising a body encircling portion having vertical edges closely adjacent each other and disposed at the. front center of the garment when worn, a waistband at the top of said body encircling portion, a front. portion connected to. the central. bottom of said body encircling portion so that said front portion may be. brought from the. rear of the wearer, between the legs and upwards to form the front face of the garment, said front portion extending substantially from side to side of the garment so as to overlap said vertical edges to a consider able degree, securing means for connecting said front portion to said waistband and further securing means on each edge of said front portion for connecting said edge thereof to said body encircling portion, said further securing means being disposed approximately midway between the halfway point along the length of the garment and the waistband.

2. A garment comprising a pair of elongated panels connected at the rear and forming a waist and body encircling portion having downwardly depending side. edges at the front center of the garment and in close proximity to each other for a major portion of their length, a front portion connected to the bottom of said body encircling portion and being of a width so as to extend substantially from side to side of the. garment and overlap said body encircling portion side edges and so as to form elongated sideopenings between the respective edges of said front portion and the face of the body encircling portion, and securing means for connecting said front portion to the top of said body encircling portion.

3. A garment comprising a pair of elongated panels connected at the rear and forming a. body encircling portion having vertical side edges which are closely adjacent each other at the front center of the garment and are separated to define a front, central, narrow, vertical, opening, a front portion connected to the bottom of said body encircling portion and being wider than and covering said vertical opening, said front portion having vertical side edges which depend along the front of the legs of the'wearer, said front portion extending substantially from side to side of the garment so as to overlap said vertical side edges of the body encircling portion to a considerable degree and so as to form elon-. gated side openings between the vertical side edges of said front portion and the face of the body encircling portion, and securing means for connecting the top of said front portion to the top of said body encircling portion, the lower ends of the vertical side edges of each portion being curved.

4. A garment comprising a pair of elongated panels connected at the rear and forming a body encircling portion having vertical side edges which are closely adjacent each other at the front center of the garment and are separated to define a front, central, relatively narrow, vertical opening, a front portion connected to the bottom of said body encircling portion and being wider than and covering said vertical opening, said front portion having vertical side' edges which depend along the front of the legs of the wearer and overlap said vertical side edges of the body encircling portion so as to form elongated side openings between the vertical side edges of said front portion and the face of the body encircling portion, and securing means for connecting the top of said front portion to the top of said body encircling portion, and a pair of fastening members connected to the vertical side edges of said front portion at a point approximately halfway between midway of its length and at its top, said fastening members being connectable to the face of the body encircling portion at a point inwardly of the vertical edges thereof so as to maintain the overlapping relationship of the portions at the upper half of the garment While permitting the lower half to separate freely at the elongated side openmgs.

5. A wrap-around garment comprising a first pair of elongated panels connected at the rear and forming a body encircling portion having a front face substantially covering the front of the wearer's legs while leaving a front, central, vertical, narrow opening, a second pair of elongated panels connected to each other at the front and to the bottom of said body encircling portion and forming a front garment portion, the front garment portion panels being smaller than the body encircling portion panels, said front garment portion covering said front central, narrow opening and extending from approximately one side to the other of the front of the garment, fastening members for connecting the top of said front garment portion to the top of said body encircling portion and further fastening members for connecting the upper half of the overlapping side edges of said front garment portion to the upper half of the front face of said body encircling portion.

6. A wrap-around garment comprising a first pair of elongated panels connected at the rear and forming a body encircling portion having a front face substantially covering the front of the wearers legs while leaving a front, central, vertical, narrow opening, a waistband at the top of said body encircling portion, securing means on the front part of said waistband for closing said waistband over the front waist of a wearer, a second pair of elongated panels connected to each other at the front and to the bottom of said body encircling portion and forming a front garment portion, the front garment portion panels being smaller than the body encircling portion panels, said front garment portion covering said front central, vertical, narrow opening and extendingfrom approximately one side to the other of the front of the garment so as to overlap said opening to a considerable degree, fastening members for connecting the top of said front garment portion to the top of said body encircling portion and further fastening members for connecting the upper half of the overlapping side edges of said front garment portion to the upper half of the front face of said body encircling portion, each of said portions being further formed with curved lower ends.

7. A wrap-around garment comprising a body encircling portion having vertical edges adjacent each other and in close proximity at the front center of the garment, a waistband at the top of said body encircling portion, said waistband terminating at the front of the garment and having fastening members for inter-connecting the terminations thereof whereby the waistband may be initially secured around and at the front of the wearer's waist, a front portion connected to the central bottom of said body encircling portion so that said front portion may be brought from the rear of the wearer, between the legs and upwards to form the front face of the garment, and securing means for connecting said front portion to said waistband, said vertical edges of the body encircling portion depending substantially straight downwardly from a front central area of the waistband and being overlapped by said front portion when said front portion is connected to said waistband.

PHYLLIS O LEARY WHISNANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

